The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Friday issued warning against eating raw oysters harvested from a bed off the coast of Washington State after it was linked to a bacterial illnesses that sickened at least six people.

After cordoning off the area associated with the vibriosis illness in southern tip of the Hood Canal, the Washington Department of Health has asked commercial harvesters who work in the area to issue a recall

The FDA has issued a warning against eating Pacific Northwest-raised shellfish as the warmer weather has allowed bacteria to form on the organisms.

About 200 cases of gastroenteritis have popped up across the country, an infection caused by Vibrio parahaemolyticus, which grows on shellfish in warm weather

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is issuing a consumer warning for oysters harvested in the Pacific Northwest.

According to the FDA there are "increased reports of illnesses associated with the naturally occurring bacteria Vibrio parahaemolyticus (Vp) in oysters harvested from the area. Oysters harvested from this region have been reported to cause gastrointestinal illness

The Food and Drug Administration is warning consumers against eating raw oysters harvested in the Pacific Northwest. The advisory was prompted by reports that some of the oysters recently harvested from that region were contaminated with Vibrio parahaemolyticus (Vp), a bacteria that can cause gastrointestinal illness.

The FDA says that until the threat of Vp from that region has passed, consumers are advised to thoroughly cook oysters before eating them. They should also thoroughly cook oysters if they are not certain of the oysters' origin, or if they wish to further reduce their risk of infection from bacteria that may be found in raw oysters

A recent wave of illness has befallen 45 residents of Washington State who have consumed raw oysters from the Puget Sound.

According to local health officials, many oysters are being discovered containing bacteria called Vibrio parahaemolyticus